Frequently Asked Questions About Private Well Permits and Construction

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North Carolina General Statute 87-97 requires counties to have programs for permitting, inspecting, and testing of private drinking water wells, which are constructed, repaired or abandoned, on or after July 1, 2008. As a result, county health departments enforce state statutes and rules and receive technical and legal assistance from the Environmental Health Section. The program is designed to protect human health and groundwater quality by ensuring private drinking water wells are properly constructed, repaired, and abandoned.

Getting a permit enables the health departments’ staff to ensure wells are properly located, constructed, and repaired, so that water quality and public health are protected. Getting a permit to construct or repair a well is required by North Carolina General Statute 87-97 and by North Carolina Administrative Code, 15A NCAC 02C .0300.

Each county sets its own permitting fee, so costs vary. These fees cover permit processing and staffing costs, including: 

  • Site visits
  • Well water sampling
  • Laboratory testing
  • Notification of water analysis results

Please contact your county health department about getting a well permit to construct or repair your well. You'll also need to fill out a permit application form as part of the permitting process

Any well that does not meet present day well construction standards is a potential conduit for groundwater contamination. As a result, such a well must be repaired (if possible) or abandoned in accordance with state rules. Temporarily abandoned wells must be fitted with a watertight cap. Permanently abandoned wells are typically filled with cement or bentonite grout. For specific details, please see 15A NCAC 02C .0113.

State rules require that you go through the permitting application process before you can abandon your well. This process serves as notification to the county that your well is going to be abandoned and allows the health department staff to ensure abandonment procedures are correctly performed. There is generally no cost to the well owner when applying for or being issued a well abandonment permit.

Contact your county health department and explain your problem. The county can provide water quality testing for a fee.

The state’s horizontal separation distance (setback) mandates a minimum of 100 feet. However, if you have a well that serves a single-family dwelling and due to lot restrictions, you cannot achieve 100 feet, the setback may be reduced to a minimum of 50 feet. Specific details concerning setbacks are found in 15 NCAC 02C .0107. Despite the state setback distances, some counties with their own local well rules may enforce their own setbacks, which are more protective of groundwater or public health.

The horizontal separation distance (setback) required by the state mandates a minimum of 25 feet Specific details concerning setbacks are found in 15A NCAC 02C .0107. Despite state setback distances, counties may enforce their own setbacks, which are more protective of groundwater or public health.

State well rules are standards established by 15A NCAC 02C. Most county health departments enforce state rules, but some enforce their own rules. These rules are more protective of groundwater or public health.

The state’s well program is designed for private drinking water wells. However, counties may have their own, separate rules to address other wells. 

Based on the type of geothermal or irrigation well you wish to install, you may also need to contact the state’s Division of Water Quality at 919-733-3221 with permitting questions.